Wall panel joint structure

ABSTRACT

Wall panels are adapted to be interconnected by separable joint structure which can serve as an electrical conduit. A joint structure enables panels to be joined without the use of screws, nails or other similar fasteners. The joint structure involves force separable components.

United States Patent Browne et a1. Jan. 7, 1975 [54] WALL PANEL JOINT STRUCTURE 3,398,499 8/1968 Moore et al. 52/495 X 1 1 Bmwne, Philadelphia; 31133325? 251323 52212251113111: :11: 25133? i Erik Baum, Pme Grove, both 3,574,985 4/1971 Pierce 52/495 x 3,719,014 3/1973 Sukolics 52/495 X [73] Assignee: Warren G. Browne, Philadelphia, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,350,575 12/1963 France 52/495 Dec. 1,540,479 8/1968 France 52/731 [21] Appl. No.: 318,296 Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Seidel, Gonda & 52 us. c1 52/495, 52/463, 52/753 w, GOIdhammsr 52/758 D 51 1111.131. E046 1/04 [571 ABSTRACT [58] Field 61 Search 52/495, 498, 471, 731, Wall Panels are adapted to be interconnected y 9 52/753 1), 463, 753 w rable joint structure which can serve as an electrical conduit. A joint structure enables panels to be joined [56] References Cited without the use of screws, nails or other similar fasten- UNITED STATES PATENTS ers. The joint structure involves force separable com- 1,962,826 6/1934 MacDonald 52/463 ponems' 3,377,756 4/1968 Polhamus 52/495 14 Claims, 9 Drawlng Figures Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3,858,377

4 sheets sheet 1 Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3,858,377

4 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented Jan. 1, 1975 3,858,377

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3,858,377

4 Shflets-Sheet 4 1 WALL PANEL .IOINT STRUCTURE This invention is directed to wall panel joint structure which will enable walls of buildings to be erected without the need of skilled labor. Panels are interconnected by joint structure which does not require screws, nails, or other similar fasteners, and has a decorative appearance.

The joint structure is directed to four separable components comprising first and second members which are removably coupled together to define a hollow channel. Third and fourth members constituting panel embracing members are removably coupled to the first member and cooperate with flanges on the first member to embrace a panel.

The panel embracing members referred to above are preferably L-shaped estrusions which facilitate assembling a wall, notwithstanding minor variations in tolerances of panel thicknesses. The present invention enables the column or hollow channel to be assembled at the factory and shipped to the site fully wired. The four-piece joint structure enables one to have access to the wiring without interfering with the mounting of the panels and permits the joint structure formed by the first and second members to be installed at the job site before the panels are erected in position.

The joint structure of the present invention is adaptable for use in retaining new wall panels in various angular positions. Thus, the present invention comprehends joints which are T joints, Y joints, L joints, V joints, etc. All components of the joint are preferably extruded members made from a lightweight noncorrosive material such as aluminum, which may be anodized for purposes of improving the surface characteristics and color of the components.

It is an object of the present invention to provide novel panel joint structure which may be rapidly in stalled at the job site without the use of skilled labor and special tools.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel wall panel joint structure which facilitates ease of installation, notwithstanding variations in tolerances of panel thicknesses.

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide a wall panel joint structure which may be factory' assembled and shipped to an installation site fully wired.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wall panel joint structure which is hollow and adapted to contain electrical wiring in a manner whereby access may be had to the wiring without interfering with the mounting of wall panels.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel wall panel joint structure which is adaptable for use at the juncture of wall panels oriented at different angles.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view in section and illustrating the bottom portion of an installed joint struc ture and wall panel where the panels are aligned with one another.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1. p

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the components of the joint structure shown in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of joint structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention wherein a T-joint is provided.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of joint structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention wherein a Y-joint is provided.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of joint structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention wherein an L-joint is provided.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of joint structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention wherein a V-joint is provided.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown a joint structure designated generally as 10, supported on a floor 12 and retaining aligned wall panels 14 and 16. The wall panels 14 and 16 are preferably multilayer panels and may be inside wall panels defining separate rooms of a building, or may be outside wall panels defining the periphery of the building. The specific nature of the multilayer wall panels, per se, forms no part of the present invention.

The joint structure 10 is comprised of four separable components including a first member 18 removably coupled to a second member 20 so as to define a hollow channel for receiving electrical wiring (not shown).

A first member 18 is provided with parallel legs 22 and 24. The second member 20 is provided with parallel legs 26 and 28. Leg 26 terminates in a ratchet tooth 30 which .is snapped into engagement with ratchet tooth 32 on leg 22. Leg 28 terminates in a ratchet tooth 34 which is snapped into engagement with a ratchet tooth 36 on leg 24.

The joint structure 10 is installed to maintain an upright disposition by means of a mounting bracket designated generally as 38. The bracket 38 includes a base 40 having an upstanding wall 42. Notches 44 and 46 are provided in the base 40 contiguous to the wall 42. The notch 48extends from the edge of the base 40 removed from the wall 42 and extends towards said wall 42. A bolt 50 extends through the notch 48 and into the floor 12.

Leg 22 is provided with a flange 52 extending toward leg 24. Leg 24 is provided with the flange 54 extending toward leg 22. The flanges 52 and 54 are aligned with one another and are adapted to be received in the notches 44 and 46, as shown more clearly in FIG. 2. The wall 42 extends into the channel defined by member 18 and the flanges 52 and 54. It will be noted that the width of the base 40 corresponds to the distance between legs 22 and 24 on member 18.

Member 18 is provided with a flange 56 which is serrated on its inner surface and embraces one side of panel 16. A similar flange 58 on the: other side of member 18 embraces a portion of panel 14.

The joint structure 10 includes retainer members 60 and 62. Retainer member 60 includes a panel embracing portion 64 which is parallel to flange 56 and embraces the opposite side of panel 16. Member 60 also includes a leg 66 terminating in a ratchet tooth 68 which cooperates with one of the teeth 70 supported by leg 22. The teeth 70 are supported by an extension of leg 22 having a flat surface against which the end face of panel 16 engages. As will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, the leg 26 on member 20 provides backup support for the leg 66 on retainer 60.

The retainer member 62 is identical with the retainer member 60. Hence, member 62 includes a panel embracing portion 72 which is parallel to flange 58 and has a leg 72 which is backed up by leg 28 of member 20. Leg 72 terminates in a ratchet tooth 76 engaged with one of the teeth 78. Teeth 78 are on an extension of leg 24 and are provided with a flat surface against which the panel 14 is engaged.

In FIGS. -8, there are illustrated further embodiments of the joint structure of the present invention. The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5-8 are identical with that described above except as will be made clear hereinafter.

In FIG. 5, there is illustrated a T-shaped joint structure of the present invention designated generally as 80. Joint structure 80 is designed to interconnect wall panel A with aligned wall panels B and C while being perpendicular thereto. Joint structure 80 is substantially identical with joint structure except for the addition of the following structure to member 18. Flange 82 is provided integral with member 18 so as to be perpendicular to flange 56. Extension 84 having teeth thereon is provided integral with member 18. The teeth on extension 84 cooperate with a ratchet tooth 86 on leg 88 of a retainer 89. Retainer 89 has a panel embracing portion 90 which is parallel to flange 82. Retainer 89 is identical with retainers 60 and 62. Extension 84 is identical with extensions on legs 22 and 24.

In FIG. 6 there is illustrated a Y-shaped joint structure designated generally as 93. Structure 93 is identical with joint structure 80 except as follows. The member 18 is provided with angularly disposed portions 94 and 96 from which the legs 22 and 24', respectively, converge. The legs 22' and 24' are generally perpendicular to the respective portions 94 and 96 respectively. Legs 22' and 24' are identical with legs 22 and 24 Member is identical with member 20 except that the former is V-shaped so as to have portions parallel to each of the portions 94 and 96 on member 18. Flanges 52' and 54' extend from member 18 instead of being mounted on the legs 22' and 24. Flanges 52 and 54' perform the same function as described above in connection with flanges 52 and 54.

In FIG. 7 there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention wherein an L-joint structure is designated generally as 98. Joint structures 98 is the same as joint structure 80 except as follows. Joint structure 98 is L-shaped for interconnecting mutual perpendicular panels A and B. Joint structure 98 does not include elements comparable to flange 58 and retainer 62. Leg 99 on member 18 has a portion coextensive with member 20 and terminates in-a single ratchet tooth 102. Tooth 34 on leg 28 cooperates with tooth 102 to facilitate coupling of members 18 and 20. Flange 54', comparable to flange 54, extends from member 18 for cooperation with flange 52 on leg 22. It will be noted that leg 99 is coextensive with the panel embracing portion of retainer 89.

In FIG. 8, there is illustrated a V-shaped joint structure of the present invention designated generally as 105. Joint structure is the same as joint structure 93 except as follows. The angled portions 94 and 96' are directly connected together so as to form a V- shaped joint structure and perform the function of member 18. Flange 52 is located on portion 94 and flange 54 is located on portion 96. The included angle between portions 94' and 96' is an obtuse angle.

In FIG. 9 there is illustrated another embodiment of the joint structure of the present invention designated 100. The joint structure 100 is similar to joint structure 10 except as follows. In joint structure 100, the wall panel 102 is oriented at an acute angle with respect to and is joined to wall panels 14 and 16. Member 20 has a first leg 104 overlying portion 64 of the retainer 60. Leg 104 terminates in a flange 106 which embraces one side of wall panel 102.

Member 20 has a second leg 108 at right angles thereto. Leg 108 terminates in a first extension 110. Extension 110 is parallel to flange 106 and engages portion 72 of the retainer 62. Leg 108 has a second extension 112. Extension 112 is perpendicular to the extension 110 and terminates in teeth 114. A retainer 116 has a portion 118 embracing the other side of wall panel 102. Retainer 116 has a portion 120 at right angles to portion 118. The portion 120 terminates in a ratchet tooth 122 which is engaged with one of the teeth 114. Otherwise, the joint structure 100 has the attributes and features of the other joint structures discussed above.

Thus, it will be noted that the straight L-shaped and V-shaped joint structures involve four components. The T-shaped and Y-shaped joint structures involve five components of which three are identical retainers. All of the retainers illustrated and described are identical. The legs on the members 18 and 20, of their equivalents in the other embodiments, are sufficiently flexible so that they may be snapped together. In this regard, it will be noted that the teeth 30 and 34 have rounded cam surfaces which cooperate with mating rounded cam surfaces on teeth 32 and 36. The cam surfaces cooperate to facilitate spreading legs 22 and 22 and enabling the member 20 to be coupled to member 18 and form a hollow channel or column for electrical wiring. A similar flexing enables the retainers to be snapped into place. Thus, it will be seen that we have disclosed joint structures which have advantages over joint structures proposed heretofore.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A wall panel structure comprising:

a. first and second discrete members coupled together, each of said members having a pair of legs, each leg on each member being coupled to a mating leg on the other member without the use of separate fasteners and thereby forming a hollow column,

b. said first member having a panel embracing flange,

c. a discrete retainer having a leg portion and a panel embracing portion, said retainer leg portion being generally parallel to an adjacent leg of said second member,

d. means for coupling said retainer leg portion to a leg of one of said first and second members at different locations so that the distance between said flange and said panel embracing portion is adjustable to accommodate panels of different thicknesses, and

e. said retainer being disposed alongside said second member so that said retainer is adjustable with respect to said flange without moving said second member.

2. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupling means is on a leg of said first member, said retainer leg portion being in abutting contact with said adjacent leg on said second member.

3. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 2 including a second flange on said first member, a second retainer having a panel embracing portion parallel to said second flange, said second retainer being adjustably connected to said other leg of said first member so that the panel embracing flange on said second retainer may be moved toward or away from the second flange on said first member.

4. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second flange is perpendicular to said first flange on said first member.

5. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 3 including a third flange on said first member, a third discrete retainer, said third retainer being coupled to said first member and having a panel embracing portion parallel to said third flange.

6. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first and second flanges are adjacent to one another and have an included angle between 90 and 180.

7. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said legs on said first member converge toward said second member.

8. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first and second flanges are aligned with one another, and the third flange being generally perpendicular to the first and second flanges.

9. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 4 wherein said retainers are identical, and only two such retainers are coupled to said first member.

10. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 7 wherein said legs are connected to converging portions of said first member, said converging portions being connected directly to one another so as to be V- shaped, and said second member having converging portions each of which are parallel to one of said converging portions on the first member.

11. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first and second flanges are aligned, the panel enbracing portiions on said retainers being aligned, and only two such retainers being coupled to said first member.

12. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first member has flanges extending toward one another, a mounting bracket having notches receiving said last-mentioned flanges, said bracket cooperating to support said hollow column in an upright disposition attached to a floor.

13. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 3 including two wall panels, each flange and panel embracing portion of the retainers cooperating to embrace one of said wall panels.

14. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second member has a panel embracing flange arranged at an acute angle with respect to said panel embracing portion, and a discrete retainer coupled to said second member without the use of separate fasteners, said last-mentioned retainer having a.

panel embracing portion parallel to said first panel em bracing flange on said second member. 

1. A wall panel structure comprising: a. first and second discrete members coupled together, each of said members having a pair of legs, each leg on each member being coupled to a mating leg on the other member without the use of separate fasteners and thereby forming a hollow column, b. said first member having a panel embracing flange, c. a discrete retainer having a leg portion and a panel embracing portion, said retainer leg portion being generally parallel to an adjacent leg of said second member, d. means for coupling said retainer leg portion to a leg of one of said first and second members at different locations so that the distance between said flange and said panel embracing portion is adjustable to accommodate panels of different thicknesses, and e. said retainer being disposed alongside said second member so that said retainer is adjustable with respect to said flange without moving said second member.
 2. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupling means is on a leg of said first member, said retainer leg portion being in abutting contact with said adjacent leg on said second member.
 3. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 2 including a second flange on said first member, a second retainer having a panel embracing portion parallel to said second flange, said second retainer being adjustably connected to said other leg of said first member so that the panel embracing flange on said second retainer may be moved toward or away from the second flange on said first member.
 4. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second flange is perpendicular to said first flange on said first member.
 5. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 3 including a third flange on said first member, a third discrete retainer, said third retainer being coupled to said first member and having a panel embracing portion parallel to said third flange.
 6. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first and second flanges are adjacent to one anOther and have an included angle between 90* and 180*.
 7. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said legs on said first member converge toward said second member.
 8. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first and second flanges are aligned with one another, and the third flange being generally perpendicular to the first and second flanges.
 9. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 4 wherein said retainers are identical, and only two such retainers are coupled to said first member.
 10. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 7 wherein said legs are connected to converging portions of said first member, said converging portions being connected directly to one another so as to be V-shaped, and said second member having converging portions each of which are parallel to one of said converging portions on the first member.
 11. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first and second flanges are aligned, the panel enbracing portions on said retainers being aligned, and only two such retainers being coupled to said first member.
 12. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first member has flanges extending toward one another, a mounting bracket having notches receiving said last-mentioned flanges, said bracket cooperating to support said hollow column in an upright disposition attached to a floor.
 13. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 3 including two wall panels, each flange and panel embracing portion of the retainers cooperating to embrace one of said wall panels.
 14. A wall panel joint structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second member has a panel embracing flange arranged at an acute angle with respect to said panel embracing portion, and a discrete retainer coupled to said second member without the use of separate fasteners, said last-mentioned retainer having a panel embracing portion parallel to said first panel embracing flange on said second member. 